New Career Skills

[duggie23]

I would warn all potential students of New Career Skills to think long and hard before signing up on this course. Your enuquiry will result in a sales person, sorry course advisor, coming round to meet you, always make sure you have somebody else with you to witness the lies that they will tell you. They will tell you various lies, ranging from we can promise you a paid job at the end of your course, or yes we guatantee you a work experience placement, oh yes we have really supportive tutors. And on and on they will. Me being me fall for all the sales patter. When going along on my week training, I think my tutor older bloke with glasses appeared around five times during the whole week, he was usually found sitting behind his desk upstairs. I have to say even though once you meet the job girl and she has just dropped the bombshell there are no promised jobs, she was really helpful and put me on the right track to help search work, she also had a genuine personality and was very compassionate towards my needs. I had Phil the tutor who does really well in not great conditions, always was there to spur you on. I am now a qualifified domestic electrical installer. I was going to do my PV at the centre, but PLEASE everybody look around the renewable courses are around £200 cheaper at other centres. So please the actual training was great, BUT you will get lied to, I also found when I complained the student care email address, you are just ignored or fobbed off with some excuse and they send you away to read your contract. My advise is go to a college go through a proper training establishment

 

[stuartgil]

hi all, i'm a student of NCS and have been for the last year, its a very good course but you do need to do your home work and put as much time into your books as possible. Its a good idea as well if you know someone near you on the course and you can either meet up to go through your tma's or call one another, this is what I have done and its made the training a lot more easier as two heads are better than one. Also try and work along side a sparky for the practical experience, especially when it comes to testing as this seems to be the area that they don't seem to give you enough experience in. And your expected to know your stuff on week four with regards to testing.

 

[bf2k]

I signed up for what is a Domestic Installers Course at NCS in January 2009 (although that isn't how they sold it). It all started well, got the information and course content on time, etc etc but it all went down hill after I went on my first practical week. I was told by the salesman that when I passed the course I would be a qualified electrician, which isn't strictly true. I was told I'd signed up for a 5 practical week course which would allow me to join a competent persons scheme whilst having any work assessed (because they took the week 5 test & inspect module was the evidence I know what I'm doing). When it turned out the week 5 was an extra cost and it doesn't count a jot towards the competent persons schemes. They also tried to sell me the extended week 5 including a PV course for an extra £750.

Most electricians I speak to (and I've come across it on here) don't really recognise people like us who've done the NCS course as qualified electricians and I can see why. We can only work on domestic installations and can only sign off our own work. So I can't even employ people to work with/under me because I can't sign off their work. If they had sold it as a route into being an electrician then fair enough but they didn't. I still need to go on to do my Level 3 to call myself an electrician.

As for the centre (I only went to Doncaster) you can't fault it. Modern, everything there you need and the tutors are on hand to help every step of the way. The careers advisor was crap though. He could only offer me work experence but couldn't help with how to go self employed??? For the best part of £6k I feel slightly short changed.

 

[simonherts]

My experience of New Career Skills electrical course was good. I don't normally have time for reviews sites (I'll explain why) but I was wound up by the comment that the only reason I work for myself is because no-one else would have me. I don't think that's fair and it's a bit of a cheap shot.
I work for myself because I now have a business where I work hard but what also allows me to take my family away every Christmas and every summer. That's why. I am going to tell you how I made a decision to train with New Career Skills, how I made sure I got my money's worth and I am also going to tell you how my business is going so well. First of all, I am a really picky customer and that comes from my previous job in shipping. I did not make mistakes because if I did cargo didn't turn up and that was a big problem. I'm the same when I buy something. A guy called David (I think) turned up at my house and told me all about New Career Skills and showed me pictures of their training centres and of students who done it. He asked me for £5,500 and I said I liked it but wanted to think about it. I can remember his facing dropping (ha!). But I said to him that I wasn't going to hand my cash over until I did what I did in my business which was take up references.
So I asked him for the names of two people I could speak to who had trained with New Career Skills as electricians. I would advise everyone to do this. I cuts to the truth. He couldn't give me the names, but he gave me the lady Clare who ran Career Search and she gave me two names. I called those people first pretending to be a customer looking for an electrician just to check out they were real (bit sneeky). Then I rang them again and asked them what they thought of New Career Skills training and what they were doing now. I was happy so I rung the guy back and said come round and I'll pay. I did it interest free.
I then decided I was going to read through their brochure and use everything they offered. Why not? I was paying for it and it cost enough. So week two I told them I wasn't quite sure I got everything so I wanted to take the week in centre again. It said in their brochure I could, so I wanted it (did it p*ss them off? - I did not care). New Career Skills let me. I asked for work experience twice because they promised it and I went out with a guy near Portsmouth for two days and then I went out with a company doing work for Sky. They had an estimating workshop - I wanted it. They have these manuals on how to run your own business - I had them too. I joined their web site and I got discount on a tester. Basically I milked them for everything and got my money's worth.
I set up my own business and I used the tutors afterwards to get advice on a few bits and bobs I hadn't done on the course. Again why not - I paid for it. Now I do domestic electrical work and whoever says I am no good can come and see my work and check it out. I am a member of a competent person scheme which means my work is quality checked. But also my customers say the work I do is the best and the way I treat them is the best. I got some of this from New Career Skills and some of this because I am a fussy git and my eye for detail is what gets me jobs.
I'll explain. I take photos of every job I do, before and after, and I put this on my web site showing the quality of my work. Before I do a job I visit the customer with a estimate sheet which gives my time and also the consumables. I guarantee my prices for 21 days. If I have not heard back from a customer I have quoted on I call them within 7 days. If I don't get the job I send them a postcard saying thanks for the interest (and I get loads of work from this). After the job send them a survey by email (lots of free programs to do this) and I ask them to rate me. I put these ratings and their comments on my web site. Every Christmas I send all my customers a funny Christmas e card (it's free). If a customer recommends three people who use me I end that customer a £50 M&S voucher. About half of these tips I got from New Career Skills and the rest I thought up myself. There was also a bloke who came round to talk about his own business and I got ideas from him. I have probably stirred up a few of the people on here who think you cannot train to be an electrician and all of us our rubbish. As I said, I don't think that's fair. My customers love what I do. They say it is a breath of fresh air. Lots of that is down to me, but I think I made the right choice too and I checked it out first and that's my advice to you my friend. By the way I also take a student now and a again from NCS on work experience because I feel a bit guilty cos I took so much off them!

 

[Drexyn]

My experience of New Career Skills electrical course was good. I don't normally have time for reviews sites (I'll explain why) but I was wound up by the comment that the only reason I work for myself is because no-one else would have me. I don't think that's fair and it's a bit of a cheap shot.
I work for myself because I now have a business where I work hard but what also allows me to take my family away every Christmas and every summer. That's why. I am going to tell you how I made a decision to train with New Career Skills, how I made sure I got my money's worth and I am also going to tell you how my business is going so well. First of all, I am a really picky customer and that comes from my previous job in shipping. I did not make mistakes because if I did cargo didn't turn up and that was a big problem. I'm the same when I buy something. A guy called David (I think) turned up at my house and told me all about New Career Skills and showed me pictures of their training centres and of students who done it. He asked me for £5,500 and I said I liked it but wanted to think about it. I can remember his facing dropping (ha!). But I said to him that I wasn't going to hand my cash over until I did what I did in my business which was take up references.
So I asked him for the names of two people I could speak to who had trained with New Career Skills as electricians. I would advise everyone to do this. I cuts to the truth. He couldn't give me the names, but he gave me the lady Clare who ran Career Search and she gave me two names. I called those people first pretending to be a customer looking for an electrician just to check out they were real (bit sneeky). Then I rang them again and asked them what they thought of New Career Skills training and what they were doing now. I was happy so I rung the guy back and said come round and I'll pay. I did it interest free.
I then decided I was going to read through their brochure and use everything they offered. Why not? I was paying for it and it cost enough. So week two I told them I wasn't quite sure I got everything so I wanted to take the week in centre again. It said in their brochure I could, so I wanted it (did it p*ss them off? - I did not care). New Career Skills let me. I asked for work experience twice because they promised it and I went out with a guy near Portsmouth for two days and then I went out with a company doing work for Sky. They had an estimating workshop - I wanted it. They have these manuals on how to run your own business - I had them too. I joined their web site and I got discount on a tester. Basically I milked them for everything and got my money's worth.
I set up my own business and I used the tutors afterwards to get advice on a few bits and bobs I hadn't done on the course. Again why not - I paid for it. Now I do domestic electrical work and whoever says I am no good can come and see my work and check it out. I am a member of a competent person scheme which means my work is quality checked. But also my customers say the work I do is the best and the way I treat them is the best. I got some of this from New Career Skills and some of this because I am a fussy git and my eye for detail is what gets me jobs.
I'll explain. I take photos of every job I do, before and after, and I put this on my web site showing the quality of my work. Before I do a job I visit the customer with a estimate sheet which gives my time and also the consumables. I guarantee my prices for 21 days. If I have not heard back from a customer I have quoted on I call them within 7 days. If I don't get the job I send them a postcard saying thanks for the interest (and I get loads of work from this). After the job send them a survey by email (lots of free programs to do this) and I ask them to rate me. I put these ratings and their comments on my web site. Every Christmas I send all my customers a funny Christmas e card (it's free). If a customer recommends three people who use me I end that customer a £50 M&S voucher. About half of these tips I got from New Career Skills and the rest I thought up myself. There was also a bloke who came round to talk about his own business and I got ideas from him. I have probably stirred up a few of the people on here who think you cannot train to be an electrician and all of us our rubbish. As I said, I don't think that's fair. My customers love what I do. They say it is a breath of fresh air. Lots of that is down to me, but I think I made the right choice too and I checked it out first and that's my advice to you my friend. By the way I also take a student now and a again from NCS on work experience because I feel a bit guilty cos I took so much off them!

Hi Simon, I have to say although i'm not on the same course that you completed. I was interested in your post and your feedback based around your experience. I am pleased you turned things into success with your business and your outlook is positive and customer focused from your comments. I am considering setting up a business in the future to encompass a great project that I have been thinking about for some time, I have spoken with a couple of sparks who think it's a unique and amazing idea and they are very keen to join me if I do get started. The customer focus I saw in your post is in direct relation to how I would support my own business along with a few other things. the discount scheme is brilliant and almost guarantees return business providing you make good on your rewards, i'm sure you always do. It's great to see a success story amongst all the doom and gloom and I thank you for providing some light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[Brady Lipshy]

Thank you for sharing this informative thread.

 

[Breaker]

I did the course as well and found it to be very expensive but I am glad I did it.

The tutors were good but they do sneak off a bit to much and always when you need them.

You start of with twelve of you and a couple of months later you get to week 2 and the numbers are dropping. Until you get to the end and their's just a couple of you left. So not everyone gets through it. Took me two years in all with the PV course at the end.

Sparky's on this forum will call you a 5 week wonder but in the real world sparky's are fine with it.

 

[cotty]

NCS Have now gone into administration! Doncaster and Watford Training Centres are open at the moment but for any of you out there who's thinking of signing up, DON'T!!

 

[Breaker]

Yeah I heard. I just completed mine in time. I wonder what went wrong because they were alway's busy at southampton when I attended.

 

[louisem1306]

I don't know how the Directors of these companies sleep at night. The same thing happened to another training company by the name of BTSC training about 18 mths ago and many trainees lost there savings. I was recommended a company by the name of Access Training UK who have centres throughout the country. They advised students on how to get the money back they had paid for there training and more importantly assisted many people on the completion of there training. Definitely worth a call you have nothing to loose.

 

[Engineer54]

I did the course as well and found it to be very expensive but I am glad I did it.

The tutors were good but they do sneak off a bit to much and always when you need them.

You start of with twelve of you and a couple of months later you get to week 2 and the numbers are dropping. Until you get to the end and their's just a couple of you left. So not everyone gets through it. Took me two years in all with the PV course at the end.

Sparky's on this forum will call you a 5 week wonder but in the real world sparky's are fine with it.

Are they?? That is just pure wishful thinking on your part, that or you're having a Laugh!!

 

[D Skelton]

My experience of New Career Skills electrical course was good. I don't normally have time for reviews sites (I'll explain why) but I was wound up by the comment that the only reason I work for myself is because no-one else would have me. I don't think that's fair and it's a bit of a cheap shot.
I work for myself because I now have a business where I work hard but what also allows me to take my family away every Christmas and every summer. That's why. I am going to tell you how I made a decision to train with New Career Skills, how I made sure I got my money's worth and I am also going to tell you how my business is going so well. First of all, I am a really picky customer and that comes from my previous job in shipping. I did not make mistakes because if I did cargo didn't turn up and that was a big problem. I'm the same when I buy something. A guy called David (I think) turned up at my house and told me all about New Career Skills and showed me pictures of their training centres and of students who done it. He asked me for £5,500 and I said I liked it but wanted to think about it. I can remember his facing dropping (ha!). But I said to him that I wasn't going to hand my cash over until I did what I did in my business which was take up references.
So I asked him for the names of two people I could speak to who had trained with New Career Skills as electricians. I would advise everyone to do this. I cuts to the truth. He couldn't give me the names, but he gave me the lady Clare who ran Career Search and she gave me two names. I called those people first pretending to be a customer looking for an electrician just to check out they were real (bit sneeky). Then I rang them again and asked them what they thought of New Career Skills training and what they were doing now. I was happy so I rung the guy back and said come round and I'll pay. I did it interest free.
I then decided I was going to read through their brochure and use everything they offered. Why not? I was paying for it and it cost enough. So week two I told them I wasn't quite sure I got everything so I wanted to take the week in centre again. It said in their brochure I could, so I wanted it (did it p*ss them off? - I did not care). New Career Skills let me. I asked for work experience twice because they promised it and I went out with a guy near Portsmouth for two days and then I went out with a company doing work for Sky. They had an estimating workshop - I wanted it. They have these manuals on how to run your own business - I had them too. I joined their web site and I got discount on a tester. Basically I milked them for everything and got my money's worth.
I set up my own business and I used the tutors afterwards to get advice on a few bits and bobs I hadn't done on the course. Again why not - I paid for it. Now I do domestic electrical work and whoever says I am no good can come and see my work and check it out. I am a member of a competent person scheme which means my work is quality checked. But also my customers say the work I do is the best and the way I treat them is the best. I got some of this from New Career Skills and some of this because I am a fussy git and my eye for detail is what gets me jobs.
I'll explain. I take photos of every job I do, before and after, and I put this on my web site showing the quality of my work. Before I do a job I visit the customer with a estimate sheet which gives my time and also the consumables. I guarantee my prices for 21 days. If I have not heard back from a customer I have quoted on I call them within 7 days. If I don't get the job I send them a postcard saying thanks for the interest (and I get loads of work from this). After the job send them a survey by email (lots of free programs to do this) and I ask them to rate me. I put these ratings and their comments on my web site. Every Christmas I send all my customers a funny Christmas e card (it's free). If a customer recommends three people who use me I end that customer a £50 M&S voucher. About half of these tips I got from New Career Skills and the rest I thought up myself. There was also a bloke who came round to talk about his own business and I got ideas from him. I have probably stirred up a few of the people on here who think you cannot train to be an electrician and all of us our rubbish. As I said, I don't think that's fair. My customers love what I do. They say it is a breath of fresh air. Lots of that is down to me, but I think I made the right choice too and I checked it out first and that's my advice to you my friend. By the way I also take a student now and a again from NCS on work experience because I feel a bit guilty cos I took so much off them!

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that I don't believe for a minute that you are who you say you are. After searching through the details of every electrician in and around Hatfield (there aren't many) with and without websites I have found that you are not one of them.

With only two posts to your name I am thinking you are one of two possible types of people. You either work at NCS in their marketing department, with the above post being very cleverly written to promote their services. If so, I salute your attempt. Or, you are a complete and utter Walter Mitty with no business, no website, no customers and no work because even though you have a vision in your mind of what your perfect business model would be, no one has allowed you to put it into practice because they realise how untrained and incompetent you are after only a couple of weeks worth of electrical training.

Which one you are I can't make up my mind.

 

[cotty]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that I don't believe for a minute that you are who you say you are. After searching through the details of every electrician in and around Hatfield (there aren't many) with and without websites I have found that you are not one of them.

With only two posts to your name I am thinking you are one of two possible types of people. You either work at NCS in their marketing department, with the above post being very cleverly written to promote their services. If so, I salute your attempt. Or, you are a complete and utter Walter Mitty with no business, no website, no customers and no work because even though you have a vision in your mind of what your perfect business model would be, no one has allowed you to put it into practice because they realise how untrained and incompetent you are after only a couple of weeks worth of electrical training.

Which one you are I can't make up my mind.

I think you are spot on there! What a coincidence that the NCS (Doncaster) Training Centre is just down the road from where the OP posted!